| Sample Syllabus |
History of Modern
Philosophy
Philosophy 312, Fall, 1998
MWF: 10:10-11:00
Dr. Barbara MacKinnon
Office (Cam D5) Hours: MWF 11:10-12:00,
2:00-2:30, & by request (X6789) |
| Course Description
|
| The so-called
"Modern" period in philosophy extends from approximately 1550-1850. It differs
from the Ancient and Medieval periods in significant ways, for example: the influence of
the new science and mathematical method, secularization, the rise of
"subjectivity," and the focus on knowledge and its grounding. Within this period
commentators have distinguished Continental Rationalists (Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz)
from British Empiricists (Locke, Berkeley, and Hume). Although a simplification, this
division is helpful and will be used in this class. Arguably the most significant figure
of the modern period in philosophy is Kant, and he will be treated as such. This course
will focus on the writings of these primary figures in modern philosophy. It will do so by
examining major portions of their most influential and interesting writings. The goals are
to increase understanding of the key philosophical problems that were the focus of their
interest. As such the course is both a study of the history of philosophy and of the
philosophical issues themselves. |
| Text: Modern
Philosophy, by Baird and Kaufmann. Philosophical Classics, III. 2nd ed. PrenticeHall,
1997. |
| Course Schedule and
Reading Assignments |
| L = Lecture;
RD = Reading Discussion (student led). |
| Date |
Reading
Asst. |
Topic |
| F Aug. 28 |
|
What’s
"Modern" about Modern Philosophy? |
| M Aug. 31 |
pp.
1-3 |
Early Modern
Philosophy, Francis Bacon (L) |
| W Sept. 2 |
pp.
3-9 (+10-14) |
Francis Bacon: Novum
Organum (The Idols) (RD) |
| F Sept. 4 |
pp.
63-65 |
Thomas Hobbes (L) |
| M Sept 7 |
Labor
Day Holiday |
| W Sept 9 |
pp. 66-68, 73-78 |
Thomas
Hobbes: Leviathan (Matter & Motion) (RD) |
| F Sept 11 |
pp. 82-86, 91-94 |
Thomas
Hobbes: Leviathan(Natural Law & Contract) (RD) |
| M Sept 14 |
pp. 15-21 |
Rationalism,
Descartes (L) |
| W Sept 16 |
pp. 25-33 |
Descartes,
Meditations (1st & 2nd Meditation) (RD) |
| F Sept 18 |
pp. 33-45 |
Descartes,
Meditations (3rd & 4th Meditations) (RD) |
| M Sept 21 |
pp. 46-53, 58-62 |
(5th
& 6th Meditation, Corresp. w. Princess Elizabeth (RD) |
| W Sept 23 |
Descartes
Debate
(Team 1 versus Team 2) |
| F Sept 25 |
pp. 105-107 |
Spinoza
(L) |
| M Sept 28 |
pp. 107-114 (D,
A, P 1-10 14) |
Spinoza:
Ethics (RD) |
| W Sept 30 |
pp. 118, 122,
130-131, 139, 157 (P18, 29, D 1-3, P 1-2, Postulates I-V) |
Ethics
(RD) |
| F Oct 2 |
Spinoza
Debate (Team 2 versus Team 3) |
| M Oct 5 |
pp. 230-232 |
Leibniz
(L) |
| W Oct 7 |
pp. 233-40 (1-12) |
Leibniz,
Discourse on Metaphysics (RD) |
| F Oct 9 |
pp. 240-244
(13-15), 252-253 (26-27), 257-8 (33) |
Leibniz,
Discourse on Metaphysics (RD) |
| M Oct 12 |
pp. 267-276 |
Leibniz,
Monadology (RD) |
| W Oct 14 |
Leibniz
Debate (Team 3 versus Team 4) |
| F Oct 16 |
pp. 158-60 |
Empiricism,
John Locke (L) |
| M Oct 19 |
Paper
on Rationalism Due |
|
pp. 161-164,
166-72 |
Locke,
Essay Concerning Human Understanding (RD) |
| W Oct 21 |
pp. 176-179,
193-197 |
Locke,
Essay Concerning Human Understanding (RD) |
| F Oct 23 |
pp. 224-229 |
Locke,
Second Treatise of Civil Government (RD) |
| M Oct 26 |
Locke
Debate (Team 4 versus Team 5) |
| W Oct 28 |
pp. 277-279 |
Berkeley
(L) |
| F Oct 30 |
pp. 279-281
(1-5), 289-93 (1-13) |
Berkeley,
Principles of Human Knowledge (RD) |
| M Nov 2 |
pp. 293-302
(14-53) |
Berkeley,
Principles of Human Knowledge (RD) |
| W Nov 4 |
Berkeley
Debate
(Team 5 versus Team 1) |
| F Nov 6 |
pp. 330-332 |
Hume
(L) |
| M Nov 9 |
pp. 339-346 |
Hume,
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (RD) |
| W Nov 11 |
pp. 346-357
(last lines) |
Hume,
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (RD) |
| F Nov 13 |
pp. 359-69 (top) |
Hume,
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (RD) |
| M Nov 16 |
Hume
Debate (Team A versus Team B) |
| W Nov 18 |
pp. 476-79 |
Kant
(L) |
| F Nov 20 |
pp. 476-480, 516,
521-25 |
Kant,
Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics (RD) |
| M Nov 23 |
Paper
on Empiricism Due |
|
pp. 529-33,
537-42 |
Kant,
Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics (RD) |
| W Nov 25 |
pp. 555-57,
558-62 |
Kant,
Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics (RD) |
| F Nov 27 |
Thanksgiving
Holiday |
| M Nov 30 |
pp. 567-71,
574-80 |
Kant,
Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics (RD) |
| W Dec 2 |
Kant
Debate (Team A versus Team B) |
| F Dec 4 |
|
Hegel
(L) |
| M Dec 7 |
|
Marx
(L) |
| W Dec 9 |
Review
for Final |
| W Dec 16 |
Final
Exam, 9:00am -11:00 |
| Course
Work and Evaluation: |
| 1. RD,
Readings and Class Discussions: 1/4 of grade. A major part of the course is analysis
and discussions of the readings of the philosophers of the modern period. The pages noted
are to be read before and for the date listed. The reading selections are limited in terms
of pages so as to give time to read carefully. You would be advised to take notes on your
reading and bring this to class with your text. Each class labeled RD is a class
devoted to discussion of the reading, both to try to understand it and to say what you
think of it. These discussions will be student led. You will be assigned to lead
the class discussion on 2 days. Your grade for this part of the class will be based
on your days as discussion leader but will also include your contributions to these
discussions on the other days as well. Class attendance and contribution are thus very
important. |
| 2. Debates:
1/4 Grade. As scheduled, we will hold a debate on some of the major contentions of the
philosophers noted. Students will work in groups of 2. Two theses or positions of the
philosopher of the debate will be given out. One team will try to support the thesis and
the other to critique it. This will reverse for the second thesis. For the last two
debates, the teams will be made up of 1/2 of the class. Thus you will participate in 4
debates overall (2 with your 2 person team and 2 with 1/2 the class). Further mechanics of
the debates will be explained in class. The goal is to better understand the nature of the
arguments, their strengths and weaknesses. You may invite friends to these debates if you
wish. |
| 3. Papers:
1/4 Grade. You will be asked to write two 5 page papers during the course. One will be on
a rationalist of your choice (Descartes, Spinoza, or Leibniz) and one on an empiricist of
your choice (Locke, Berkeley, or Hume). The paper should be a summary and analysis of one
of the positions of the philosopher. You should cite sections of the readings to make your
points. You should also give your own evaluation of this position. Additionally, you
should explain why or how this particular position of the philosopher is related to his
rationalism or empiricism. Dates due are listed above. Double spaced, typed. Can cite page
numbers of references in the paper if using our own text, eg (57). |
| 4. Final
Exam: 1/4 Grade. This is an overview exam with general questions. 6 questions will be
given out in advance. When you come to take the final you will be asked to write on 4 of
these (my choice). You may bring with you one 3 X 5 index card with your notes on it.
Bring a blue book to exchange |
